Production of novelty yarn



Oct. 9, 1956 H. HOFMANN 2,765,489

PRODUCTION OF NOVELTY YARN Filed Dec. 24, 1952 United PRODUCTION OF NOVELTY YARN Hugo Hofmann, Elizabethton, Tenn., assignor to Beaunit Mills, Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 24, 1952, Serial No. 327,876

7 Claims. (Cl. 18-8) The present invention is concerned with a method and apparatus for the production of novelty yarns of synthetic filamentary material.

Silk thread which is obtained from imperfect or freak cocoons, or from cocoons of wild or uncultivated silk worms has an imperfect texture and is characterized by having thickened portions or nubs spaced at irregular intervals. It was early discovered that such yarn could be utilized in the production of fabric having a pleasing appearance.

Producers of synthetic filamentary material have striven to simulate the imperfections occurring in such silk, and to produce an artificial yarn which would have the same novel properties as that possessed by silk obtainable from freak cocoons.

Methods and apparatus for the production of such novel filaments having a denier variation are known in various forms. In the funnel spinning art to which the present invention pertains, Pat. No. 2,125,230 discloses a novel yarn wherein slubs are caused to be formed on the filaments being spun by allowing the filaments to pile up while in a partially coagulated condition, with the resulting denier variation occurring in a completely indeterminable manner.

According to the present invention, however, the particular denier variations desired may be produced according to a controlled predetermined plan, and may appear at regular long, or regular short intervals or at variations between the two. The apparatus for accomplishing this purpose is extremely simple in design, but positive in operation.

The present invention may be utilized in connection with any type filaments capable of being spun from a funnel. While the invention will be described in connection with the funnel spinning of a cellulosic cuprammonium spinning solution, it is to be understood that the invention is equally applicable to viscose spinning as described in U. S. Patents 2,065,175 and 2,154,893 for example.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to devise a method and apparatus for producing denier variations in the finished thread according to a controlled, predetermined plan and which is simple in construction and easily controlled and practiced.

A further object is to produce a thread having denier variations in the form of slubs at controlled intervals along the length thereof.

These and other objects will become obvious from the following detailed description and claims when taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the invention, and so much of a spinning machine as is necessary to illustrate the use thereof.

Figure 2 is a side elevation similar to Figure 1, but showing an alternative control means for the auxiliary fluid supply.

Figure 3 shows an alternative filament slubbing recep- 2,755,489 Patented Oct. 9, 1956 tacle which may be substituted in place of the fiat surface shown in Figure 1.

Figure 4 shows a spinnerette adaptable for use with the process and apparatus of the present invention.

In Figure 1 of the drawings, in which like reference numerals indicate like parts 5 indicates a spinning funnel as used in the cuprammonium process. A supply manifold 8 delivers spinning solution to funnel 5 in the usual manner. Funnel 5 also has a spinnerette (not shown) disposed in the spinning head portion 7 as is customary in the art. Spinning solution from manifold 8 is delivered to the spinnerette and the extruded filaments proceed down the funnel 5 along with the coagulating fluid which is delivered from the manifold 10 through lead-in tube 12, and thence down the spinning funnel as indicated by the arrows.

The filaments or thread 6, under normal coagulating solution flow, pass around guide 14 and are taken up on the customary take-up reel (not shown). During the period of spinning even denier yarn, according to the present invention, the filaments follow this normal path.

In the present invention, an increased fiow or surge of coagulating liquid is delivered to the spinning funnel in periodic recurring cycles by means to be subsequently described, so as to interrupt the normal take-up of the filaments 6, and deposit said filaments momentarily on the surface of the flat plate 16, which may be inclined slightly if desired in the manner disclosed in U. S. Patent 2,125,230. As the filaments 6 drop on to the spinning table surface 16 they are only partially coagulated, due to the greater quantity and velocity of the precipitating liquid which draws the filaments through the funnel at a considerably faster rate, thereby aiding in keeping the coagulation of the filaments at a minimum.

When the filaments 6 are carried to the surface of plate member 16 by the sudden surge of coagulating liquid, small loops and snarls occur in the filaments, which, due to their sticky, partially coagulated condition, results in slubs or areas of increased denier being formed. The take up and slubbing action is as disclosed in the aforesaid U. S. Patent 2,125,230.

When the normal flow of coagulating liquid is resumed the threads are again taken up in the manner of normal spinning as previously described.

As an alternative to the fiat surface 16 for receiving the filaments during the slubbing step, Figure 3 shows a circular flat bottomed vessel 18 which may be employed for this purpose. Smaller more frequent slubs are produced by this device and for certain end uses, such a construction is desirable. While this vessel is shown as circular, any dished receptacle having the required area for the denier being spun is satisfactory.

The manner of controlling the flow of coagulating fluid will now be described. In the form shown in Fig. 1, the fluid manifold line 16 is provided with a metering valve 20 for regulating the normal maximum flow of liquid. A bypass line 22 is connected around this valve and is itself provided with a metering valve 24 to predetermine the maxim flow through the bypass line 22.

Connected in the bypass line 22 is the quick opening, spring urged, normally closed valve 26, having a valve stem 28 depending therefrom. A hand valve 27 is provided for closing off the bypass line 22 at its lower side. Valve stem 28 is notched on its free end to provide a seat for the cam surface 3%) which is driven by a variable speed motor 32 through a gear reduction box 34. Cam 30 may be constructed in sections which may be adjusted relative to the center thereof to change the surface configuration of the cam if desired. Also different shaped cams may be substittued in order to change the cycle of the opening and closing of the valve 26 which delivers the increased fiow of coagulating liquid.

In the form of apparatus as shown in Fig. 2, the construction is the same as that shown in Fig. 1 except in the manner of opening and closing the auxiliary fluid supply valve. An air operated diaphragm valve 40 is provided having an air inlet hose 42. A solenoid valve disposed in the timer box 44, controls the flow of air to valve 49. Timer 44 is a conventional repeat cycle timer which may be purchased from the Automatic Temperature Control Company. A throw switch 46 is provided to cut the timer 44 on and off. The air for operating valve 40 is delivered from an air pressure line (not shown).

According to the cycle setup on the timer 44, air valve 40 will be opened and closed in a repeating cycle to cause a momentary increased flow or surge of coagulating fiuid through the line 10. This surge carries the filaments 6 to the receiving means disposedbeneathfunnel to form slubs thereon periodically in the manner previously described.

In view of the foregoing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it is thought the process and apparatus disclosed will be clear to those skilled in the art which it relates.

What I claim is: v

1. Apparatus for spinning novel filaments of artificial origin, comprising a spinning funneL- a spinnerette disposed above said funnel, means for delivering a coagulable cellulosic spinning solution to said spinnerette, means for delivering a constant flow of coagulating fluid to the top of the funnel disposed beneath said spinnerette, and additional means for periodically increasing the flow of said coagulating fiui'd through said funnel in sharp surges. I

2. Apparatus for spinning novel filaments of artificial origin having a random denier variation appearing at predetermined intervals, comprising a spinning funnel, a spinnerette disposed above said funnel, means for deliver ing a coagulable cellulosic spinning solution to said spinnerette, a supply manifold line for delivering a constant flow of coagulating fluid to the top of said funnel disposed beneath said spinnerette sufficient to discharge the extruded filaments from said funnel, means disposed beneath said funnel for periodically receiving the filaments issuing from said funnel in a momentary piled relation, a metering valve disposed in said line, a bypass manifold line connected to serve as a bypass around said metering valve, a second metering valve in said bypass line to control the maximum fiow therethrough, a quick opening spring-urged normally closed valve disposed in-saidbypass line and means for periodically opening said springurged-valve in a repeating sequential cycle to deliver an increased flow of coagulating fluid to said funnel sulficient to momentarily carry said filaments in a piled con dition to the means disposed beneath said tunnel for re ceiving same.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 2 wherein the means for periodically opening said spring-urged valve comprises a rotating cam member associated with said quick opening valve.

4. In a process for the funnel spinning of novel filaments having a random denier variation at predetermined intervals from a coagulable cellulosic spinning solution, the steps of delivering an increased flow of coagulating liquid to the funnel in a periodic sequential cycle, said increased flow being in the nature of surges thereby disrupting the takeup of the filaments issuing from the spinning funnel and delivering said filaments in piled relation beneath said funnel, said pileup of filaments being momentary thereby efi'ecting aslubbing action at irregular intervals along the filament bundles prior to the takeup thereof.

5. The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spinning solution comprises viscose.

6. The process as claimed in claim 4 wherein said spinning solution comprises a cuprammonium solution of cellulose.

7. Apparatus for funnel spinning of novel filaments comprising a spinnerette, means for supplying a coagulable cellulo sic spinning solution to said spinnerette, a spinning funnel positioned below said spinnerette, means for delivering a constant flow of coagulating fiuid to the top of said funnel, means for periodically increasing the flow of said coagulating liquid to said funnel in sharp surges, means for taking up the filaments issuing from said spinning funnel, means upon which said filaments pile up temporarily during the increased flow of said coagulating liquid at which time said take up means does not take up said filaments rapidly enough, said pile up of said filaments being periodic and momentary but sufficient to effect a slubbing action along said filaments prior to the take up thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 999,321 Leach Aug.'1, 1911 1,852,692 Bryant Apr. 5, 1932 1,926,111 Roberts Sept. 12, 1933 2,251,247 Bauriedel et al. July 29, 1941 

